Another top drug suspect killed in Negros Occidental

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – A top drug suspect was killed after he resisted arrest during a buy-bust operation in Calatrava town, Negros Occidental, early Wednesday, August 3.

Police identified the fatality as Jobert Apurado, 34, of Barangay Looc in the said town. He was the town’s 5th top drug personality.

This came a month after the allegedly top drug personality in Silay City, Andrew Tuvilla, was also killed in a shootout with authorities.

On Wednesday, suspect Apurado sold a sachet of suspected shabu to a police poseur-buyer for P100 along the national highway of Barangay Looc at around 12:30 am, said Superintendent Gil Flores, chief of Calatrava Municipal Police Station.

The suspect, however, resisted arrest. He ran and tried to shoot the operatives, but his firearm jammed, which prompted the authorities to shoot him. 

The suspect died on the spot from a gunshot wound to his chest.

Recovered from the suspect was a .38 caliber revolver, a sachet of shabu, drug paraphernalia, and P630 cash.

Apurado’s companions, Fernando Albarico of Calatrava town and Ray-yan Ignacio of San Carlos City, were also arrested during the buy-bust operation.

Albarico, who is also on the town’s target list, yielded a sachet of shabu, while Ignacio was previously arrested in San Carlos City for possession of illegal drugs when he was still a minor.

The two suspects, who were detained in the town police station, will be subjected to a drug test.

Last week, 4 suspects, including a town’s top drug personality, were also killed in a police shootout during a drug buy-bust operation after they resisted arrest at Barangay Miranda in Pontevedra town on July 27. (READ: Duterte inspires Negros Occidental cops to intensify campaign vs drugs) – Rappler.com